Representative Mike Flood held a town hall in Norfolk, Nebraska, greeting protesters in hand‑maid‑theatre cloaks and his Democratic rival. Despite a modest crowd, he pledged to keep holding such meetings, a rarity among GOP lawmakers who now deem face‑to‑face outreach politically risky.

Flood framed himself as a bipartisan operator, highlighting a recently passed housing bill that won unanimous Democratic support and downplaying the flagship tax package President Trump calls the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” He stressed results on energy independence and tax relief while subtly distancing himself from the president’s more controversial rhetoric.

A poll shows Flood leading Democrat Chris Backemeyer by just two points in a district that historically leans red. The race could hinge on turnout differentials between urban Lincoln and surrounding rural counties, a scenario that could reshape the GOP’s majority if the broader midterm wave intensifies. Flood also opposed the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion Jan. 6 compensation fund, echoing Senate resistance.